No, I already gave an example. But you dismissed it because in your head, you know what "all" Android users want or don't want. I could bring up plenty more examples, like USB tethering in 2.2, multiple email account support in 2.0, etc. I assume you're just going to dismiss those as well.

Agree, but that doesn't have much to do with the point that many are still going to want or at least be interested in OS updates.

No actually it doesn't seem like you know very much. The fact that you speak in absolutes about what entire groups of people want or don't want is pretty much evidence that you're talking out of your ass. No amount of condescending double-talk is going to cover up your ignorance.

bye!

7. Because there are features in several major releases that some non-tech users may care about because they either don't know or can't get them on the App Market.

Tone, like speaking as though you are the authority on what "all" Android users care or don't care about? Dismissive of anything that doesn't agree with your outlook?

If there's absolutely nothing useful to a user in the OS upgrades because it's all already available, then why is Google wasting time developing them? You're wrong, and you know you're wrong.

I suppose "civilized manner" is your snotty, holier-than-thou, "I speak for all Android users" style of discussion? Here's the difference between your stance and mine: I am saying that some non-tech users exist that will care about OS upgrades, not all of them. You are stating that all non-tech Android users don't.

Ahahahahhahahhahahhah

Oh please, try and pretend you're nothing more than a bullshit Fandroid zealot. Anyone with half a brain that can search your posts in this entire thread knows it's pretty obvious you take a 'side' in this. Go on, gargle some more of Google's jizz after blowing them and pretend you're anything but unbiased.

Oh my god, you are so insightful. Please, tell us what 'anyone' already has. I'm sure you can back up your claims too that everyone already has alternates or hates the UI enhancements. Oh wait, no you can't, because you're trying to paint all Android users with a broad stroke whereas I'm assertiong that there may be a subset of users that care about upgrades (which is easy to prove)

Oh yeah, I'm sure only geeks care about how long their battery lasts. Have you ever left your mom's basement to talk to average users? You know, the people that don't all weigh 400 pounds with cheeto-stained neckbeards that haven't showered in 4 days?

Prove it. Prove your statement that 'anyone who understands that would be able to root most Android devices'. Oh wait, you can't, because you don't speak for the majority or 'all' of Android users.

Those of us that actually understand software, ie not you, know that something available by default is going to be recognized and welcomed by users more than a configuration option.

Yeah, you're a fucking idiot if you think you want to speak for 'everyone'. Again, go leave the basement once in awhile and interact with real people instead of the fat internet nerds on your instant messenger list.

Perhaps you should re-read my posts, as you seem to have confused my "this is an example of what comes in an upgrade that some people might care about" with "everyone specifically wants 2.3 because of these features and their phone is useless without them".

Not everyone will be concerned, and not about every update, I agree. I posted that link not to specifically say "everyone cares about 2.3 specifically because of all these great features", just to illustrate that updates to the Android OS are indeed advertised to the public, and contain more than just back-end developer or techie features.

Take the 2.2 update for example. One of the major hyped features was USB tethering and Wifi hotspots. At the time, that was a pretty big deal, and there were many phones that didn't get the update for months (and some not at all). Now while it's true I've never heard my dad use the technical terms "tethering" or "hotspot" for example, he knows enough (and has even asked me about this) to be interested in "using his phone for his laptop's internet while travelling". Back to the 2.3 update, the features of an "improved" UI that has been described as "streamlined" and "simpler". Now while to a lot of people, those are probably just meaningless buzzwords. No UI satisfies everyone though, and there are plenty of people who might find some minor irritants on their phone, hear about "improvements" in the next update, and be interested. It doesn't mean they hate their phone or that it's impossible to use.

My point is simply that the major Android updates deliver new features, and you don't have to be a geek or techie user to care about the ability to upgrade. Nor should it be expected that a user can walk into say a Verizon store, look at a phone and say "hey this is using the HTC Sense UI, what impact will this customized code have on update rollouts" or "Oh this is a Motorola phone, I know they lock down the bootloaders so this may impact the ability to update with customized code".

Who the fuck said you wouldn't have a "proper smartphone" without the upgrade? Seriously, what the fuck is your problem? Are you so dense that you can't understand that other people might have different perspectives than you?

No you're not. You're being so defensive that someone might have a criticism of Android phones that you immediately dismiss anything that deters even slightly from your view.

No, you're acting like an Android fanboy because you can't seem to grasp the concept that average users may care to some degree about major upgrades or new features without being so technically-savvy that they fully understand bootloaders, rooting, and custom ROMs. You're acting like an Android fanboy because you dismiss any criticisms of the upgrade process as "oh well they wouldn't need it anyway", while frothing at the mouth about Steve Jobs and Apple even in response to posts that don't mention them in any way. Go masturbate to the Android source code or whatever it is you do in your spare time. I'm done trying to debate with you, as it's about as productive as watching a retard try to hump a doorknob.

It's not "minutia" and you are the one that is trying to engage in an Android/Apple pissing match, not me. I have in fact made no statements at all about Apple, the iPhone, or which one is "better". All I have done is say that yes, there are people out there that can be informed enough to know and care about *major* Android updates without having to be technically inclined enough to understand bootloaders, rooting, and custom ROMs.

Frankly, all your posts come across as the Android version of an Apple fanboy, and it's pretty ironic you would tell anyone else that they are existing inside a reality distortion field.

There are plenty of people who have never seen a line of source code and have no idea what a bootloader is, that still know enough to be interested in updates to the OSes of both their PCs and mobile devices. Information about major Android releases are found in fairly mainstream tech and news sites.

Example:
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/burnette/top-10-features-in-android-23-gingerbread/2143

"User features

      1. New on-screen keyboard. The standard keyboard has been greatly improved in Android 2.3, with faster input and more intuitive typing. Even cut-and-paste got a makeover.
      2. Streamlined user interface. New color schemes and various UI changes and polish make Android more consistent and simpler to use.
      3. Application and power management. Android 2.3 provides better insight into what is running in the background, how much memory and CPU time it is using, and even lets you kill misbehaving apps. Yes, after months of telling us we don’t need a task killer, they give us a task killer. Enjoy your chuckle, iPhone fans.
      4. SIP Internet calling. Voice over IP is integrated directly into Android 2.3. Unfortunately you’ll have to get a SIP account from a third party, and the ability might be curtailed on some carriers.
      5. Download management. All your downloads from your browser, email, and other apps, can now be viewed and controlled from one place."

You don't have to know about rooting, bootloaders, open-source, or coding to have some understanding of the above points and potentially be interested. There are many levels of technical ability between "I compile my own Android builds for fun!" and "Does this here phone thing have the GeeBees and the Why-Fis and play them Angry Birds"

That's a load of crap. You are more than likely not going to be allowed to root your phone in a corporate/business environment. And there are plenty of people that aren't classified as "tech-savvy" but have enough knowledge to keep up with basic information in the industry and be interested in major features that come out in new releases. There are a thousand levels of expertise between "I compile my own Android builds for fun!" and "What's this here phone thing, does it have the GeeBees and the Why-Fi's?"

Yes because the majority of consumers clearly should have to concern themselves with researching the concepts of bootloaders and the effects of custom UIs on the inner workings of the OS and impact it will have on future software updates. The only dumb people around here are those with your attitude.

I want you to go back and re-read your post, and imagine someone else made a post about Apple using the same tone and level of emotion in their defense. You'd probably call them an 'Apple drone' or something along those lines, and that's exactly how you sound about Google.